Jackson County, South Dakota
Located in South Dakota, Jackson County has a population of 2,802 residents and a median age of 34.3 years, making it the #3,049 most populous county out of 3,222 nationwide. In terms of economic indicators, the county has a poverty rate of 42.4%. The median home value is $117,300, and the median household income is $35,417, which is 53% below the national median.
Demographics
Jackson County has a population of 2,802, making it the #3,049 most populous county in the US. The median age is 34.3 years, which is 11.8% below the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in Jackson County is $35,417, ranking #3,119 out of 3,222 counties — 52.9% below the national median. The poverty rate is 42.4% and unemployment stands at 7.2%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in Jackson County is $117,300 (-58.4% vs national). Renters pay a median of $442/mo and the homeownership rate is 67.3%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In Jackson County, 12.4% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 63.1% below the national average, ranking #3,073 out of 3,222 counties.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Jackson County is 64.1 years. 24.8% of adults report poor or fair health and 16.2% lack health insurance. Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
26.9% of adults in Jackson County smoke , 39.7% are obese , and 18.3% report excessive drinking.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 76.3 per 100,000.
Motor Vehicle Deaths Trend
Families & Children
36.0% of children in Jackson County live in poverty . The teen birth rate is 65.3 per 1,000 females age 15–19.
Teen Birth Rate Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in Jackson County is 50.0%. The mean commute time is 13.8 min, which is 50.1% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Jackson County voted Republican with a margin of 35.1%. The vote was 31.6% Dem / 66.7% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 1.1 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
About Jackson County, South Dakota
Jackson County, South Dakota has a total population of 2,802, making it the 3,049th most populous county in the United States. The median age in Jackson County is 34.3 years, which is 11.8% below the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Jackson County is $35,417, which ranks #3,119 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 52.9% below the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 42.4%, higher than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 7.2%.
The median home value in Jackson County is $117,300, 58.4% below the national median. Renters in Jackson County pay a median gross rent of $442 per month. The homeownership rate is 67.3%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Jackson County, 12.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 63.1% below the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 72.6% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 13.8 min.
Jackson County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is American Indian (non-Hispanic) at 61.2% of the population, followed by White (non-Hispanic) (36.6%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
All data for Jackson County, South Dakota comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.